PHILADELPHIA — Barring any major additions in the month before spring training, the Phillies’ biggest offseason news was turnover in the broadcast booth.

And so on Monday afternoon, franchise second baseman Chase Utley met the media to put a positive spin on a 2014 season that most outside the organization believe will end the same way the last two did — without a postseason appearance.

Utley talked about how a healthy roster — particularly first baseman Ryan Howard, who hasn’t been himself since tearing his Achilles on the final play of the 2011 season — would help the Phillies return to the form which saw them win five consecutive National League East titles from 2007-2011.

He raved about new right fielder Marlon Byrd, the 36-year-old one-time Phillie and 2010 All-Star who hit a career-high 24 home runs with the Mets and Pirates last year. He even did his best to talk up recently-acquired fifth starter Roberto Hernandez, whose claim to fame is that he used to call himself Fausto Carmona.

Byrd and Hernandez were really the only noteworthy acquisitions of an unusually quiet offseason for the Phillies, who made news a few days ago by removing long-time broadcaster Chris Wheeler as well as Gary “Sarge” Matthews from their on-air team.

“I definitely think we can contend,” said Utley confidently. “I wouldn’t have signed back here if I didn’t think we could contend. I truly do (believe).

“We had some key guys banged up and when you lose the middle-of-the-lineup guys, middle-of-the-field guys — those are important parts of your club. Having those guys back healthy automatically makes us a better team. We have to want it, which I think these guys do.

“Adding Marlon is a strong guy who plays a great outfield. He’s kind of a gamer, he plays the game the way I like it to be played. He plays it hard. Fans who have forgotten will remember the kind of player he is. I feel like we have a pretty solid team. Roberto Hernandez can be tough, he’s a ground-ball guy which is good for this ballpark.”

The key, the second baseman agreed, is Howard, who combined with Utley to create one of the most productive right sides of the infield in the game a few years ago.

CONNECT WITH US!

Utley spent the 2011 and 2012 seasons battling a degenerative knee condition that cost him months of each season, but found an offseason workout program last year that kept him healthy for all of 2013.

He has continued the program in California the last few months and in discussions with Howard feels the slugger is on the right track to being a middle-of-the-lineup force again.

“We’ve missed him the last couple years, having him in the middle of the lineup creates a lot of (problems) for the opposing teams,” said Utley. “His power is scary, which we all know. He doesn’t need to hit 60 home runs. When guys are on base, he has a knack for putting a good at-bat together and scoring that guy. Seeing him have 600 at-bats will be fun.”

The Phillies needed a little bit of positive press. Starter Cole Hamels and closer Jonathan Papelbon commented in offseason interviews about a clubhouse atmosphere that wasn’t conducive to winning.

Utley — who is accommodating and pleasant in interviews, but not always available or quotable — said the Phillies asked him to come out to do a brief media tour.

And so he sang the praises of young third baseman Cody Asche and accentuated the positives of Ryne Sandberg starting his first full year as manager with former manager Larry Bowa as his bench coach.

“I was just passing by,” joked Utley when asked what made him decide he wanted to meet the media. “It’s not about me. ... It’s about all of us coming together. The Phillies asked if I would come out here and I said sure, we’ll chat a little bit. But I just wanted to let you know we’re all excited about the season.

“To have a healthy Ryan, healthy Ben (Revere) ... Cole and Cliff (Lee) at the top of rotation isn’t a bad thing. We’re going to stay positive, we’re not getting down, we’re going to put our game-face on and go from there.”